That Time the IWCC Did Social Media Week

October 30, 2013

The Independent Webseries Creators of Canada (IWCC) jumped on the opportunity to represent Canadian web series at Social Media Week Toronto (SMWTO). With all acronyms aside, the event on September 25, 2013 invited the public to a screening of high-quality web series. Social Media Week is a free digital culture festival that features panels, conferences, classes, parties, and screenings. This year’s festival took place from September 23 – 27 in Toronto. According to their website, the festival had their ‘official content hub’ at the Windsor Arms Hotel. The IWCC, quite skillfully, managed to have their ‘Web Series Wednesday’ event at the same location. The Windsor Arms Hotel had a bar (not open), rows of seats for the attendees, and a projector set up for the screening. Several members of the IWCC were present including, acting president, Robert Mills. Mills, along with Out With Dad star Kate Conway and Pete Winning creator Mike Donis presented the Family Friendly Hour.

Of course, Mills couldn’t help but bring Ruffus along. After Conway and Donis had introduced themselves Mills introduces himself, and finally mentions the talking dog. “I was wondering if you were ever going to get around to me! Geez!” exclaims Ruffus. The audience laughs and Mills quickly continues, “and we’re here to uhhh present a bunch of web series that have been produced here in Toronto, as part of Social Media Week. We can thank them for letting them host us!” Mills hands the mic to Donis to continue emceeing. Donis says hello to both Mills and Ruffus,“I don’t like that guy,” he says pointing to Mills. “He doesn’t like me!” says Ruffus, taking the opportunity to steal the show, “He doesn’t like me because I’m debonair. I’m the good looking one of the group.” Ruffus happens to be in full costume for his latest project, the Ruffus the Dog Steampunk Adventure, complete with a top hat fitted with goggles. Conway, who’s holding the second mic, decides to chime in, “that is very true.” The three of them continue to riff off each other. Jason Leaver, creator of Out With Dad, and Danielle Thorn film the whole thing. Thorn had previously interned on Out With Dad’s third season, and since then has become a contributing member of the Toronto Web Series Community. After Mills, Conway, Donis and Ruffus got the audience fired up the group screened seven family-friendly Toronto web series. The list is as follows:

After the screenings ended, the three emcees (four including Ruffus) are back on stage. Mills starts off with some Ruffus-centric banter, “It needed a bit more Ruffus. That’s all I’m saying,” the four invited the aforementioned web series creators up on stage. Mills passes the mic down to the far left of the stage. Going from left to right the mic moves along: Jeff Knoll executive producer of Kid’s Town, Mikelle Virey director of Kid’s Town, “unfortunately the creator Tomas Street, couldn’t be here today. He’s working, slacking off, or something.” Jeff Knoll shouts out to his cast in the audience, David Knoll, Noah Ryan Scott, Richard Davis, and Kelly Ames – and Phil Guerrero waves to the audience from the balcony with the Social Media Week banner.

Jill Golick, creator of Ruby Skye P.I., then takes the mic, “I think that we saw a lot of really great performances tonight!” She also points out her cast members in the audience, Marlee Maslove and Madison Cheeatow. The mic continues down the line with Jason Leaver, creator/writer/director of Out With Dad, Torin Stefanson, co-ceator and director of My Lupine Life, and Aron Tomori who plays Louis in My Lupine Life. Golick chimes in, “We should mention Rob [Mills] here too, when we’re talking about creators.” Ruffus replies, “This guy? Are you kidding me? He follows me around everywhere,” the puppet leans in towards the audience, “I’m trying to get a restraining order.” The creators then talk amongst themselves and decide to come back after the next hour of screening for the Q&A [hyperlink]. Mike Donis invites Carrie Cutforth-Young and Ash Catherwood, creator of Microwave Porn, to come up for the ‘Not So Family-Friendly Hour’ of screenings. Mics in hand, the two make their way onto stage.

Carrie Cutforth-Young is known for her unconventional outfits. Web Series Wednesday is no exception. Cutforth-Young – wearing a robe, high heels, and stylish tophat, – points to Mills as he exits the stage, “Now who’s the president of the IWCC? Was it you,” then pointing to Ruffus, “or you?” “It’s both!” says Catherwood, “Who’s better dressed? That’s what I really want to know. It’s Carrie.” Catherwood, wearing a grey suit and a black bow tie, motions over to his co-host. “I think for me it’s the hat,” replies Cutforth-Young. “This is Carrie Cutforth-Young in case any of you don’t know. She’s amazing,” says Catherwood. “And this is Ashton Catherwood, one of my personal heroes. And my masseuse as well. So this is the naughty hour! I want to make sure that all of the kidlings have left the room, or are doing earmuffs when we say ‘earmuffs,’” says Cutforth-Young. She indicates what ‘earmuffs’ means, by putting her hands over her ears. Catherwood seconds this notion, “We like to swear.” “Let’s practice now. Earmuff,” Cutforth-Young pauses for effect, “Fuck.” The audience loves this whole routine, hopefully because everyone is age-appropriate. Catherwood joins in, “Crap.” “You didn’t say earmuffs first!” exclaims Cutforth-Young, “You ruined the game.” Cutforth-Young proceeds to thank Social Media Week Toronto for hosting the IWCC. She also thanks the ‘exhaustive organizers’ Jill Golick, and Jason Leaver. She explains a little bit about the IWCC in five sentences or less, by pointing to Ash Catherwood, “it’s creator driven, independent, and audience focused!” Consequently, Catherwood picks the three key points in the IWCC’s mandate [hyperlink]. Cutforth-Young continues, “Right, and we’re a non-profit association. We’re celebrating web series, and web series creators. This is just a nice event that gives you a taste of the kind of things that we have in store. And we have something really special in store coming up!” The hosts then mention the coming of T.O. Web Fest. At the moment, not a lot is known about the web series festival. According to a flyer, which I picked up at various web series tables at Fan Expo 2013, the festival will hit the city in Spring 2014. Of course at the moment it’s all hush, hush until the big announcement. It’s certainly a long-anticipated event within the Toronto Web Series Community. Both Cutforth-Young and Catherwood insisted that the festival will be, ‘really big.’ This leads to some kerfuffle over trying to find the list of web series for the Not So Family Friendly Hour, which includes Carrie admitting she lost the list and saying she’s a bad host, and Catherwood denying such a concept. With Cutforth-Young encouraging the creators to say, “something naughty,” the screenings are as follows:

The Toronto Web Series Community is a group of filmmakers organized on Facebook and has been active for just over two and half years. The IWCC is the non-profit associated that sprung from the same group of people, and had its official launch on May 21, 2013.